Well pump



Dec. 12, 1944. w. L. CHURCH WELL PUMP 4 sheets-sheet i Filed 001;. 2, 1945 Dec. l2, 11944. w. L. CHURCHv WELL PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 2, 1943 w. L. CHURCH WELL PUMP Filed Oct. 2, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. l2, 1944. w. CHURCH I WELL PUMP 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 Filed 001'). 2, 1945 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a well pump and has particular relation to a deep well pump which may be operated hydraulically from the-ground surface. L

An object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically operable well pump which dispenses with the use of sucker rods. to reciprocate the pump plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump of the character described whichmay be removed lfrom the well either by fluid pressure or by the use of a wireline.

With the above and other objectsin view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings where:

Figures 1 to -inclusive show upper, intermediate, and lower sections of the pump taken in succession from the upper to the lower ends thereof, shown partly in section, with the parts positioned as at the beginning of a power stroke.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show upper, intermediate and lower sections of the pump, shown partly in section, with the rparts at the end of a power stroke and ready to begin a suction, stroke.

Figure 10 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Figure l.

Figure 11 shows a `cross sectional view taken on the lineII-II of Figure 1.

or intake Figure 1 2 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line I-2--I2 of Figure 1.

Figure 13 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line I3-I3 of Figure 1.

Figure 14 shows a, cross sectional View taken 4 on the line I4'-I4 of Figure 2.

4 numeral I designates a well tubing which extends to the ground surface and which, in the present illustration, has a special coupling 2 at its lower end formed with a downwardly converging seat 3 and containing an upwardly opening valve 4 which controls the valve seat 5 formed in said coupling. As shown in the present illustration a well screen 6 is' connected to the lower l55 end of the coupling 2 and there is a packer 1 around the upper end of the screen forming a seal between the Well tubing and the outer well Acasing 8 so as to seal oil the producing stratum beneath.

The upward movement of the valve 4 is limited by a cross rod 9 in the coupling 2.

Above the seat 3 the lower end of the tubing I is provided with suitable outlet openings I0 which, in the present illustration, are shown as vertical, elongated slots. y

I'he numeral II designates a cylindrical valve housing, screwed into the upper end of which there is a head I2' having a central chamber I3 and provided with inlet'I ducts I4 leading into the chamber from the tubing above and having discharge ducts I5 discharging into the upper end of the housing II.

The pump cylinder is connected to the lower end of said housing and comprises upper and lower cylindrical sections I6, I 6a, the latter of which is reduced in diameter and said sections are connected by the reducingcoupling I1.

Screwed into the lower end of the reduced section I6a of the cylinder there is a valve casing I8 containingr an internal chamber I9. A tubular valve see. 20 is clamped in the lower end of said valve casing I8 and the passageway therethrough is controlled by the upwardly opening ball valve 2l locatedl in the chamber I9.

Screwed into the lower end of the valve casing` I8, and clamping the seat 20 in place, there is a valve cage -22 having a tubular valve seat 23 clamped in the lower end thereof and proy f vided with side outlets 24 above said seat with"v an upwardly opening ball valve 25 controllingthe passageway of liquid upwardlythrough said seat. f ,ff

There is a valve housing 26 surroundin the valve'cage 22. Its upper and lower end are reduced in diameter internally. The reduced upper end is internally threaded and screwed onto the valve casing I8. A tubular nipple 21 is screwed into the lower end of the cage 22 and clamps the seat 23 in place and is fitted into the reduced lower end of the housing 26 and has countersunk seal rings 28, 28, therein which form seals between it and the valve housing 26.

The upper end of the pump is sealed with the tubing I by means of the seal ring 29 which suring 2s is the tubuiar guide su whose lower end` is tapered to conform to the taper of, and to t Within' the seat 3.

.Fixed within the housing therein is a cylindrical valve cage 3| within which the sleeve valve 32 is mounted. The cage 3| has the inside upper and lower annular grooves 33, 34 whose sides converge outwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 'I and surrounding the valve and seated in the external annular groove 35 thereof there is an expansible ring 33 whose outer side is shaped to conform to the shape of the grooves 33, 34. lThis ring is provided to hold the valve 32 in upper or lower position but will yield to permit sluiting of the valve as hereinafter fully explained.

This plunger has the external annular grooves 4| spaced apart therearound to form liquid seals with the cylinder walls. The lower end of the tubular portion of the plunger has the ducts 42 leading outwardly through the wall thereof into the cylinder as shown in Figures 2 and 8. Screwed within the upper end of the plunger, and iltted closely around the valve stem 31 there is a bushing 43, preferably formed of bronze or brass. This bushing at the upper end of the plunger` and the head 33 at the lower end oi the valve stem form spacers for spacing the valve stem inwardly from the wall of the plunger thus providing the space 44 and the stem is provided with vertical elongated slots 43 above the head 33 to allow the free. flow of the operating liquid into and out of said space.

Surrounding the valve stem and supported on the head 33 there is a strong coil spring 43 and beneath said head the plunger is formed with an inside annular upwardly facing shoulder 41 on which there is supported a coil spring 43. Upon down stroke. or power stroke, of the plunger the bushing 43 will contact the spring 43 as it approaches the end of its stroke and as it moves on down said spring willbe compressed exerting a pull on the stem 31 and on the valve 32 thus eventually unseating the expansible ring 33 and permitting the valve 32 to move downwardly until said ring 33 registers with the groove 34 into which it will seat thus stopping the further downward movement of the valve, as shown in Figure '1. 'Upon upward movement of the plunger, as it approaches theend of its upward stroke, the spring 43 will engage the lower end of the stem 31 and upon further upward movementof said plunger the stem and valve will be moved upwardly, the expansion ring 33 beingunseated from the groove 34 and seated in the groove 33, as shown in Figure 1. These springs 43 and 43 act as shock absorbersto cushion the shock of the plunger stroke on the valve. The movement of the valve -downwardly is'limited by the inside annular upwardly facing shoulder 43 formed in the valve housing 3| beneath the valve and its upward movement is limited by the lower end of the head I2; but the expansion ring 36 holds the valve against movement except when it is moved by the plunger. l

The valve cage 3| has the external longitudinal inlet channels-53 leading downwardly from the upper end thereof and terminating above the lower end thereof, as shown in Figures 1, 7 and 10 to 13 and which receives the operating iluid from the tubing above; and also has the corresponding upper and lower inlet ports 3| and 32, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, which lead inwardly from said respective channels as is also shown in Figures 11 and l2.

The valve cage 3| also has the upper and lower exhaust ports 53 and 34, as shown in Figures 1, '7, l0 and 13. These exhaust ports 33 and 34 are staggered, circumferentially, with respect to the channels 33, as shown in Figures l0 and 13 but they are in constant registration with' the upper and -lower exhaust ports 53. 33 through the valve housing as is also shown in Figures 1, 1, l0 and 13.

The valve stem 31 is spaced inwardly from the lower end of the valve cage 3 I, as is shown in Figures 1. and '1, to allow a passageway 31 for fluid and the lower end ofthe valve 32 has a series of inlet bores 53 and a corresponding series of exhaust bores 33 leading upwardly therethrough from the lower end of the valve. The upper ends of these bores are turned outwardly through the valve wall, as shown in Figure 12. These outwardly turned ends are positioned to register, respectively, with the inlet ports 32 and the discharge ports 34 as is illustrated in Figures 1 and '1 and also in Figures 12 and 13.

It will be observed from an inspection of Figures 3 and 8 that the reduction in diameter of the lower end of the plunger 43 forms an external annular shoulder 33 on said plunger thus providing a space 3| for iiuid around the plunger between the shoulder 33 and the upper end of the reducing coupling |1 into which the ducts 42 lead and from an inspection of Figures 5 and bore 33 leading from the chamber |3 into the tubingl.

The valve 32 has the ports 34 adapted to be brought into registration with the inlet and exhaust ports 3| and 33 as the valve is shifted to inlet or exhaust position.

Assuming that the valve is at the end of an exhaust, or up, stroke, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the'valve -32 will be in its upper position with the exhaust ports 33, 33 and 34 in registration and with the upper ends of the bores 33 in registration with the ports 32. The ports 3| will be closed as 'will also the ports 34, 33 and the lower end of the cylinder will be filled with the well liquid drawn in from the preceding up stroke.

This well liquid will pass 'in through the screen 3 and upwardly lifting the valves 4, 23 and passing on up through the bore 32 as indicated by the arrows in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The operating iluid will now pass downwardly through the channels 33, through the ports 32, bores 33 and the pasageway 31 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 and will move the plunger downwardly expelling the liquid from the pump cylinder beneath the plunger 43 and the valve 25 will be closed and the valve 2| lifted and the pumped liquid will be expelled through the bores 32, 33 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 9 and will pass out into the tubing and on out through the slots l0 thereof into the well casing 3 and on up to ,the ground surface. As the plunger approaches the end of the downward movement the bushing 4| will contact the spring 43 and compress the same and as it moves on downward it will exert a pull through the valve stem 31 on the valve 32 as herein above explained causing said valve to move downward and causing the port 54 thereof to register with the port 5I and also causing the upper ends of the bores 59 thereof to register, with the exhaust ports 54, 55, as shown in Figure 7. Thereupon the pressure of the operating fluid will be relievedfrom the upper end of the plunger and said operating iuid will pass inwardly through the ports I, 54 and on down through the plunger and into the space 6I thereby forcing the plunger back upwardly, on

intake stroke, thus drawing another charge of well fluid into the pump cylinder and the spent operating uid above the plunger will be exhausted out through the space 51, the bores 59 and the exhaust ports 54,' 56 as indicated by arrows in Figure '1. As the plunger approaches the limit of its upward movement the spring 45 will engage the lower end of the stem 31 and as it moves on upward said spring will be compressed and will .move said stem and valve upwardly into the position shown in Figure 1 with the port 64 in registrati'on .with the exhaust ports 53, 55 and with .the upper ends of the bores in registration with the inlet ports 52 all of which is shown in Figure 1, ready for the next succeeding down stroke, or power stroke, of the plunger. Upon each down stroke of the plunger the pressure of the operating fluid therein and in the spaces M and 5I will be relieved through the ports 64, 53 and 55.

Provision has been made for removing the pump from the Well tubing I. In Figure there is shown in combination a iishing tool and plunger lwherein the numeral 55 designates a cylindrical plunger body having the downwardly opening cup rings 66 thereupon which iit closely within the tubing i; Screwed into the lower end of the body 65 there is a slip bowl 51 provided with an inside downwardly converging seat 68 whereon there is mounted a plurality of wedge shaped slips 59 having inside teeth engageable with the outwardly toothed stem 10 upstanding from the head l2.

- Screwed onto the upper end of the body 55 and clamping the cup rings in place there is a screw cap 1|having a conical shaped head 12. This combination shing tool and plunger may be dropped into the tubing I at the ground surface and pumped down by fluid pressure until it lands on the upper end of the head l2 and the lower end of the slip bowl will close the ducts Il and the slips 59 will engage the stem 10.

Thereupon the circulation of the operating iluid may be reversed, that is it may be forced downwardly through the casing 8 instead of through the tubing and inwardly through the slots I0 beneath the cups 66 and thepressure will ordinarily be vsufiicient to unseat the pump and carry it to the ground surface. However if it is not, a wire line with a grappling tool may be lowered into the tubing and engaged with the head 12 and the pump pulled out.

What I claim is:

1. A pump for-.wells shaped to be inserted into a tubing in, and sealed with the wall of, a well and comprising a cylinder, a plunger reciprocable therein, means for admitting an operating liquid from Ithe tubing into the cylinder and applying the pressure thereof in opposite directions, alternately, to the plunger to reciprocate the same, means for relieving the operating liquid in advance of the plunger, as the plunger reciprocates, said liquid admitting and relieving means including a valve to be moved by the plunger into one position to permit application of tb'e operating fluid to the plunger to move the same in one direction, retractable means for temporarily holding the valve in said position, said valve being movable to another position to relieve the operating fluid, releasable means for temporarily holding the valve in said last mentioned position and yieldable means arranged to be placed underv compression when the valve is in either of said positions, said pump having a conduit leading `from the-well beneath the seal and discharging into the tubing above the seal and a valve controlling the advance of well liquid upwardly through the conduit.

2. In a pump, a cylinder, a plunger therein, a valve assembly connected to the plunger. said pump having fluid passageways through which an operating uid may be applied to the plunger to reciprocate the same, said valve mechanism including a sleeve valve therein movable to one position to direct thel operating fluid on one side of the plunger and movable to another position to direct the operating fluid to the other side of the plunger, a valve stem connecting the plunger to the valve for correspondingly moving the valve as the plunger moves, releasable means for temporarily holding the valve in either of said positions and yieldable means arranged to be placed under compression by the stem as said stem approaches the limit vof its movement in either direction.

WALTER L. CHURCH. 

